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Back Surgeries L5-S1

Started by 102088589161330... on 02/09/2016 2:30pm

I had my first surgery on September 1st 2015 after years of back pain The Doctor said ( I'll get you up and going and fix the issues ) well 4 surgeries later I'm still dealing with major pain from my right butt down to my right foot As well as my back. The first surgery went bad the screw at S1 right side backed out and the artificial disc lodged up against my spinal cord WOW the pain was all I could take. Many nights in tears trying to use the restroom and was told that because he had to go in from the back that recovery would be tough. I told him I felt something pop and after a month plus they finally ordered a milo to see what was going on. After milo I was sent directly to ER for surgery. This was on a Tuesday morning and after a 6.5 hour surgery he had to give up and send me to recovery. I was feeling like I was going to die. He went back in on Friday morning with a C arm machine and a cat scan to find the disc and reattached it with larger screws. Then came the spinal leak and the worst headaches you can imagine. He told me to lay flat for a week in the hospital and see if it would clear up. After 5 days I got up and walked with a slightly better headache and was sent home. Well it wasn't long before the killer headache came back. He ordered a X-ray to see what was new. I had a major Giant sack of spinal fluid out side of spinal sack and off to hospital I go for emergency surgery to fix what he felt was a small leak. Turned out to be a tear that required a patch 5 more days in hospital with the nurse having to come in every hour to drain 29 mil of fluid to protect the patch. Home now and living on morphine and Norco and gabapentin and sleeping pills as well as my heart meds and I feel like a bus ran over me. My right foot and butt fires up from nerve pain and everything between. I feel like I've been put out to pasture and the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming my way. Help if you have any advice They want to give me a Caudal injection to see if that helps. My big toe can bend down a little but not up at all without me pulling it up. Zero feeling in my little toe and the one next to it. My calf feels like someone is hitting me with a 220 volt wire I know I sound like a little baby and sorry for that. I'm not I've raced cars played football and baseball. I used to hunt and camp all the time and the younger guys could not keep up. Please if you have any suggestions or direction you could point me in I would really appreciate it. This has really caused a issue for my wife and son In my mind and I just want an answer good or bad. So I can move on with my life and see some sunshine and walk my dogs. Or even make it to the mail box and back without having to wipe my eyes. Thanks and God bless y'all and I hope nobody ever has to go through this. JB

5 Responses

I'm so sorry for all of your pain. I don't have advice however...I came to this sight looking for my own advice and to look at others experiences as I am looking at back surgery myself. I do hope you get some relief but I would say if you are in so much pain now...could trying the shot really make it worse? I had two injections in my back, the first didn't help but for about 2-3 days. The second one made me worse and I've finally gotten off gabapentin since it's diminished some. Thanks for sharing your story and I hope the best for you to have your pain lessen or better yet go away.

Thank You I've heard about the gabapentin thing. Lots of people saying that getting off it really helps. My doctors want me to take 1800 mg a day. Having the injection next Wednesday and am hoping it helps. At this point I'm willing to try anything. Good luck on your journey.